Silent No More

After months of not writing anything, I’m back.

I’ve got the itch.

The bug.

The feeva!

… to write.

Too long have I neglected this space. Too long have I not espoused my opinion. Too long have I gone without typing “fuck.” I’ll wait no longer. And here is why I’ve returned:

FUCK INTOLERANCE, BIGOTRY AND OPPRESSION!

This week current and former NHL players came together to form the Hockey Diversity Alliance. Akim Aliu, Evander Kane, Trevor Daley, Matt Dumba, Wayne Simmonds, Chris Stewart, and Joel Ward affixed their signatures to the one-page press release announcing the formation of the organization. In short, the HDA is an independent entity who’s mission is to eliminate racism and intolerance in sport of hockey. This is a tall task, say, a year ago. Now, with a ground swell for wholesale change in society and a lack oversight from the organization that’s perpetuated intolerance (I’m talking about your organization Gary) I think they have a real shot at succeeding. I’m not insinuating that Mr. Bettman has been nefarious in his his running of the league, more so that he and the owners have neglected to address racism.

For their part, in 2017 the NHL appointed Kim Davis as their Executive Vice President of Social Impact, Growth Initiatives & Legislative Affairs. The problem… her paycheck comes from the people (almost exclusively old white men) that have perpetuated the systemic issues we face. So how much can she actually rock the boat before she’s fired? How hard can she push for wholesale change? This is why the independence of the HDA is critical; they can publicly say, and lobby for, the things that Davis might not have been able to.

My hope is that these two entities, Davis’ group and the Hockey Diversity Alliance, are able to work together. I also hope, that other players, coaches and executives are willing to step forward and offer their support to this cause. So far, we’ve seen some do so.

Some is not enough.

This is a human issue, not a special interest issue. If you cannot understand that, I implore you to read about the rise of the Nazi Party and fascism.

We need all those that play a prominent role, not only in the sport of hockey but in all facets of life, to challenge their preconceived notions. To open their ears, eyes and minds to the plight of their fellow human. And, to have some empathy and compassion in how they approach life. If we all do these things, genuinely, and lean into the un-comfortableness that will inevitably come with these necessary conversations, we may yet see a brighter future for hockey and, most importantly humanity.

What's Yet to Come

As we all await the return to normalcy following the All-Star weekend, it seems only right to start guessing and wish-casting. After some talk with a dear friend, we decided to pick two teams from each conference and a long shot. Not necessarily because we think they’ll square off in the Conference Finals, but rather that we like the cut of their jib.

Western Conference:

Colorado Avalanche

Let’s just get this one out of the way. No click baiting you until the bottom. Everyone’s darling this year, the Avs, are drawing a lot of heat. And for good reason; superstar Nathan MacKinnon and Calder-leading candidate Cale Makar are must-see TV. Let’s not get it twisted though, MacKinnon has definitely been carrying the load for them, with 72 points on the year. The next closest is the aforementioned Makar. He’s got 37. That’s a pretty big gap.

Despite that gap, the Colorado finds themselves in 2nd in the Central Division. A scant six points away from the first-place St. Louis Blues. With Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen back in the lineup and the easiest remaining schedule, according to Power Rankings Guru, this team should be humming once the playoffs arrive. I’d even wager they could edge out the Blues for that top spot.

Vancouver Canucks

I cannot help but be mesmerized by Elias Pettersson. His build and silky mitts are reminiscent of a one Pavel Datsyuk. Pettersson is engine that drives the team, leading the Canucks with 52 points. With his trusty winger, J.T. Miller… wait, what?!? What happened to Brock Boeser? Nothing. He’s doing just dandy with 44 points (16 G, 28 A) in 51 games played. Meanwhile, the first year VAN-man has put up 19-31-50 in 51 played this year. In the words of Paris Hilton, “that’s hot.” With Miller helping to bolster the forward group, their power play is 7th in the NHL at 23.5%.

Oh yeah, Quinn Hughes is playing pretty good too, so that helps. I don’t mean to downplay a rookie defenseman who’s on pace for well over 40 points, I just see some minor flaws in his game that need refining. Once that happens, hopefully this season, this team will be well poised for a run at Lord Stanley’s hallowed prize.

Eastern Conference:

Pittsburgh Penguins

Despite being, again, decimated by the injury bug, Mike Sullivan has the Pens poised for anther crack at the Cup. Sidney Crosby, aka Zoolander, missed 28 of 50 games possible this year, missing almost all of November, December and half of January. When he wasn’t injured, Evgeni Malkin was. He’s played a few more than Sid, 37 total, missing a fair bit of October. Some would consider this good luck. I’m not sure I buy the luck angle. I’m thinking, more likely, that Jim Rutherford knows some deep dark magic to keep them afloat.

All kidding aside, This team has been able to more than just survive, they’ve thrived despite these injuries; sitting at 2nd in the Metropolitan with 67 points. They also boast a top 10 penalty kill and a power play that, without the services of Jake Guentzel and temporarily missing Crosby, sits around ~20%. Though not their best PP in the Sullivan era, it’s sure to improve down the stretch and give other teams fits.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Earlier this year the question was whether the Lightning were broke. I think that’s behind us know so we can just ogle at their sheer might again, right? Good.

This team is an absolute juggernaut. I’m not going to wax poetically about them… for too long. Just know that they were hovering around .500 earlier this year then went on an absolute tear of late. They currently have the 2nd PP and the 6th PK, plus they’re crushing in almost every possession and goals expected statistic you can find.

Tampa good. Nuff said.

Long Shot:

Edmonton Oilers @ -2000

Please, dear God, if you’re out there, call your friends… The Hockey Gods. Do whatever it takes to allow us to see more of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. That is all.

For additional insight, please check out the Coming Hard on the Puck podcast.

Malkin's Mastery

Written on: 12/8

First time back in the saddle. How do words work again? Can someone remind me how to grammar?

Alright, low-brow jokes aside, I’m here to laud Gino.

Time really is a flat circle. Date this headline; Sidney Crosby down for injury, Evgeni Malkin steps up big. It’s gotta be some time during 2011-2012, right? No, it’s from this season. Yes, both are right.

This year the Russian future Hall of Famer is reminding all of us just how special a talent he is. Despite missing 11 games due to injury this year, Malkin has 26 points in his 19 appearances. Those 26 points are good enough for second on the Pens behind Jake Guentzel (31) who’s appeared in all 30 of Pittsburgh’s games. That’s a hell of a points-per-game pace at 1.37. His next closest team mate (and line mate, I might add), Bryan Rust, is at 1.06 points/game. That difference of 0.31 PPG is the 4th largest such gap between team leader and second best on the team.

Largest Points/Game Gaps in NHL (Name, GP, PPG)

1. BUF: Jack Eichel, 30, 1.37 - Victor Olofsson, 30, 0.87 = 0.5

2. CHI: Patrick Kane, 29, 1.21 - Dylan Strome, 25, 0.80 = 0.41

3. WSH: John Carlson, 31, 1.39 - Evgeny Kuznetsov, 28, 1.04 = 0.35

4. PIT: Evgeni Malkin, 19, 1.37 - Bryan Rust, 16, 1.06 = 0.31

5. LAK: Anze Kopitar, 31, 0.94 - Drew Doughty, 31, 0.65 = 0.29

Since Malkin’s return he’s only been held off the stat sheet four out of 17 appearances. Of those 17, he’s had 8 multi-point games with one of those being a 2 goal, 3 assist effort against the Canucks. That was the 8th time in his career that he’s reached or exceeded 5 points in a game, placing him second in Pens history behind Mario at 51 (no that’s not a typo, he was that good).

Like in the Vancouver game, Gino has been carrying the load for this team since Sidney’s departure from the line up following the Blackhawks game on November 9. In that stretch without their captain, the Pen’s are 7-3-3 in large part to, for my money, the favorite for Hart.

Yes, the Year of the Dynamic Duo is upon us. Everyone is drooling over Pasta-Marchand, McDavid-Draisaitl, MacKinnon-Makar right now. They are all exciting and viable candidates for the consideration, but the key is that they have each other. Jack Eichel is the only other player I’ll even entertain for Hart. These two men are single handedly carrying their teams, kicking and screaming, into the playoffs.

The sad part in all of this, we only seem to appreciate Malkin most when Sid is gone. I’m certainly guilty of it at times. The fact that Pittsburgh is blessed with such talented centers like them is astonishing. Once Crosby is back, let’s not lose sight of the beauty.

We Were All Wrong

Round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs kicked off last night with two absolute bangers. It started with Bob showing up and showing out but, ultimately, falling in overtime to a solid Bruins lineup that didn’t allow frustration dictate the day. That was followed by the first major Tara-saur sighting of the playoffs; two goals for the Rus-ky as Jordan Bennington continued to shut down the haters by beating Bishop, a Vezina finalists. While everyone continues to push forward, I’ve got to add my two-cents to the conversation of, “what the fuck happened?!”

The first round of the playoffs was Gary Bettman’s wet dream. All that man talks about is parody, parody, parody. I wouldn’t be the least bit shocked if it was tattooed on him somewhere. My guess is on his inner thigh, but I digress. With NONE of the 1-seeds making through from the Atlantic, Pacific, Central or Metro, we are faced with the reality of what the NHL has wanted all along; a meaningless regular season. Alright, maybe that’s not the intent, but it definitely should provoke some interesting conversations about the importance of the first 82 vs the race for the Cup. I’ve heard the argument from many, and I believe it to be true, that the regular season is mark of a great team and a Cup is the mark of a hot team. While the Venn diagram definitely has some overlap, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to be both. Though many have come before and many will after, the Tampa Bay Lightning are the most recent example.

By tying the ‘95-’96 Red Wings regular season win total, they cemented themselves in history. Then they proceeded to get dismantled by Columbus in a sweep, also adding to history. This shocking display just reinforces the point that no one knows shit. The NHL had to reopen their stupid Bracket Challenge and allow people to pick anew because of how little the regular season matters. I have yet to read back through my predictions, but I’m pretty sure I got every single series wrong other than the Islanders and Blues advancing. The only place that .250 is good is baseball, and that’s only true because now everyone just wants to hit dingers. I still am ride or die on Vegas and will argue ‘til I die from lack of oxygen that they got jobbed and would have won the Cup, but I was wrong. ‘HOLY SHIT, someone who writes about hockey admitted they were wrong!?!?!!’ Yes, I did. I think we all need to eat some humble pie on this year. I’m humbled to the point that I don’t even really want to pick any of the second round series.

Eh, fuck it. Here we go. In order of confidence:

Islanders over Hurricanes in 6

Blues over Stars in 6

Jackets over Bruins in 6

Sharks over Avalanche in 7

Despite knowing the results of game 1 in both two of the series already (CBJ v BOS and STL v DAL), I still feel like I don’t have any clearer an idea as to what the fuck is going to happen. I’ve officially jumped on to team chaos’ bandwagon. Fuck it, let’s have an Islanders-Av’s Cup Final. That’ll get people freaking out. Also, the hatred for Ottawa would be through the goddamn roof if the Colorado made the Final or won the Cup ON TOP OF drafting in the top 5. I wouldn’t be shocked if Eugne Melnyck and Pierre Dorian received ricin or anthrax in the mail if that happened. Regardless of all that’s happened and all that’s yet to come, we’ve been treated to some great hockey, per usual. When it all comes to an end, I’ll be nothing short of sad and 2019-2020 won’t come soon enough.

Lord (Stanley) Help Me!

Today is the NHL Draft Lottery and though many fans are anxious to find out the fate of their favorite franchises future (God helps us all if Edmonton wins), the rest of the hockey world is focused on the holiest of prizes; Lord Stanley’s Cup. Here with a few thoughts on each series we have me. Starting from the top:

TAMPA v COLUMBUS:

This is the series where my heart and my brain can’t come to an sort of compromise.

Brain: Tampa is the best team since our beloved ‘95-’96 Red Wings. There’s no way they can lose.

Heart: Yeah but Bob is kind of heating up. He could steal a series.

B: Come on now, the guy’s a .891 playoff goalie.

H: Sample size…? Plus, Seth Jones and Zach Werenski are really freakin’ good.

B: I see your Werenski-Jones pairing and raise you a Kucherov.

H: Call; Bread Man.

B: Hedman

H: Dubois

B: Point!

H: … Duchene

B: Stammers. Now can we be done with this pissing match?

H: Fine. Tampa in 6 it is

BOSTON v TORONTO:

This one is quite the match-up. On one hand, Boston hasn’t played at full strength almost all year. On the other, they nearly got beat by a Tavares-Muzzin-less Leafs team last year. Regardless of how you dissect this one, I think pretty much everyone agrees that this one is bound for 7 games of absolute excitement. One of the biggest questions I have is whether or not Charlie Coyle will be a factor. Since being traded to the B’s he’s only registered 6 points in 20 games. That’s not going to cut it if they expect to go goal-for-goal with Toronto. Luckily, Boston has the 3rd best goals allowed average (2.59) in the league to offset some of those bottom-six deficiencies.

For the Leafs, the name of the game, as it’s been all year, is score-score-score. If Freddy Anderson can be average or better I don’t see how Boston advances. Leafs in 7.

WASHINGTON v CAROLINA:

They’ve done it again. The Carolina Hurricanes have made the playoffs. It only took them 10 years but… Oh you were expecting me to say something about Washington and their Metro Division Championship weren’t you? Well there’s that too. This match-up is one of “been there, done that” vs “let’s show ‘em what we’re made of.”

Carolina has definitely turned some heads this year. Between their rough start and Sebastian Aho showing everyone that he is legit AF, this team has certainly got some buzz around them going into this series. Beyond Sea Bass, there aren’t that many gamebreakers to speak of on this roster. Their blue line is really solid and deep but leaves a bit to be desired. I don’t see a world where they’re able to contain Kuznetsov, Backstrom, Oshie and The Great 8 for an entire series.

Let’s not forget that Washington is trotting out Braden Holtby. Though the Hurricanes will be feisty and make a series of it, I have to take the tried and true Caps. Washington in 5.

NEW YORK (I) v PITTSBURGH:

I wrestled long and hard over this one. Everyone always says, “don’t bet against Sid and Gino come playoffs!” And while that may have been the case, there’s something about this years iteration of the Penguins that just seems a little off. I realize that they have struggled to stay healthy all year, but I get a ‘16-’17 ‘Hawks type vibe from this group. Like the magic is gone, or there’s no more tread left on the tire. Pick an analogy. Either way, my gut tells me that a tough Islanders team, playing in Barry Trotz system, backstopped by Robin Lehner will find a way to pot enough goals to move on. Islanders in 7.

CALGARY v COLORADO:

Too deep.

Too tough.

Too good.

That’s exactly why the Flames are the 1st overall seed in the Western Conference this year. Colorado’s first line is definitely going to get theirs but when it’s all said and done they’ll be lucky to muster a single victory away from the best team in Alberta. Flames in 5.

SAN JOSE v VEGAS:

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Knights. Bringing in Mark Stone put them so over the top that it’s tough to see how the can falter. Calm down Bay Area, your team is really good too. Doug Wilson has done a masterful job of assembling one of the greatest group of skaters in the NHL, though I’m not sure he knows that goalies are a thing. Martin Jones and Aaron Dell haven’t exactly inspired confidence this year and Wilson did little to address this at the deadline. Mostly because he gave away all his first-round picks for Erik Karlsson. Fingers crossed Flower reverts back to a sub .900 playoff guy otherwise, look out Sharks fans. This one could be rough. Vegas in 6.

NASHVILLE v DALLAS:

Let’s give it up for the Jim Lites everyone! Where would the Stars be without him. Probably on the golf course, sipping vodka-sodas I’d imagine.

Seriously though, what Dallas has been able to do this year is pretty fuckin’ awesome. Ben Bishop has returned to form following some recent injury issues over the last couple years and given them a huge shot in the arm. You combine that with a dynamic forward trio (Benn-Seguin-Radulov), a Norris-caliber D-man (Klingberg), and whatever the hell Jim Montgomery is doing and you’ve got a team that looks dangerous heading into this postseason. Though, their competition is no pushover.

Having won five of their last six, Nashville looks like their starting to put things together for the home stretch. Which is what makes this series one of the toughest to call. Of all the series, I see this one as having the highest range of possible outcomes. I’m happy to not be a degenerate gambler because I wouldn’t know where to put my money. But, alas, I have to go with the team that’s proven. Preds in 7.

WINNIPEG v ST LOUIS:

This match up, like the last one, is a total toss up to me. Despite being able to recover from a rocky start, the Blues still have questions surrounding their net-minders going into the playoffs, while Winnipeg just looks less than themselves. If Patrik Laine can get into a groove, it might spell doom for St. Louis, considering how the Jets have been able to get by this year with him posting a career-low in both goals and assists (30-20-50). The forward and defensive groups are a dead heat in my eyes so that means it has to go seven games, right? Flip a coin. Jets in 7.

There is a Season (Turn, Turn, Turn)

Spring is in full bloom and, for those of us here in the Frozen North, it couldn’t come soon enough. Not only is the weather nicer, but I don’t have to suffer through Minnesota Wild games on TV anymore. The same can be said, at times, for my beloved Red Wings. Typically, the entire focus of the hockey world shifts to the playoffs at this point, but there’s been some pretty juicy stories that deserve a little time in the sun.

Connor

As most have probably already heard and seen, Connor McDavid suffered, what appeared to be, a brutal injury while going to the net. News shortly after said that the x-ray’s were negative which is good because it was oddly reminiscent of Stammer’s fracture he suffered against Boston some years ago. He won’t travel to World’s, as is Oiler tradition following their regular season, due to the injury and he’s expected to make a full recovery. This applies to all athletes, but it would have been a fuckin’ shame if this injury had had long term ramifications on his career, a la Bobby Orr.

Q

Today it was announced that Joel Quenneville will be joining the Florida Panthers next year as the bench boss. This comes just one day after the Sunrise franchise released “The Boogieman.” Rumors were out there that Q was interested in the Cats but to see him go was still a bit surprising. I’d always imagined him ending up somewhere like St. Louis or elsewhere West so he could stick it to Chicago on a regular basis. His decision also thickens the “Bob and The Bread Man” plot. It should be fascinating to see whether those rumors come to fruition because, HOT DAMN would Florida be a trendy pick in Vegas if so.

Out of the Housley

Not a lot to say here. Phil Housley got canned. Jack Eichel is the shadow GM. We’ll see who he picks next to lead them to another lottery pick.

PLAYOFFS, BABY!!!

The table is set for what should be an interesting first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Tomorrow I’ll have a nice little primer on the match-ups. The one nugget I’ll leave here; NHL.com bracket challenge is dumb.

Red Wings Rant - 4/1/2019

Another day, another Red Wings victory.

I didn’t think I’d be using a phrase like that the remainder of the season, but here we are! 7-1 in their last 8 has Detroit flirting with the idea of, oh yeah that’s right, nothing. It’s hard because instinct says cheer but logic says “TANK IT UP!” Did I love seeing Dylan Larkin get to 70 points? Duh. The sense of joy seeing the captain, I mean future captain, of the proud Hockeytown franchise reach that milestone in points was amazing. After sitting a few games of the last couple weeks, it was in doubt whether or not Larkin would even play the rest of the season, let alone score 30 goals. This guy is the heart & soul of a franchise in desperate need of some sense of hope. Despite what some around the league may think, this guy is a bonafide, number-1 center. Think Patrice Bergeron. Larkin’s is not the only season that’s been impressive in this recent stretch.

Between Taro Hirose, Tyler Bertuzzi, Anthony Mantha and Andreas Athanasiou I’m not sure who’s sweater I’d rather have right now. Alright, the real answer is Tyler Bertuzzi. I’m going to say it right now, I love him. Probably more than I should, but the guy is freakin’ great. It may be an unpopular thing for a life long Red Wings fan to say this, but I really hope that he’s a direct clone of Brad Marchand. 93 points and counting, the guy has most certainly overachieved based on his 71st overall selection in 2006. Lil’ Bert has already banked 19 goals and 25 assists this year, his first full season in the NHL, and with a bit of help and hard work, he could be a 50+ point guy for years to come. And GOD does Detroit need anything good to cheer about after this season.

Which brings us back to the other face of my conflicted fandom coin; WHY THE FUCK ARE WE WINNING!? This little heater has thrust the club up the standings, which is not a good thing for bad teams to do down the stretch. Detroit has moved from 3rd to 5th in the odds to win the draft lottery to draft 1st overall. Despite the fact that odds are just that, odds, it still helps to have as good a chance as possible. There in lies the rub, as some might say. I want to see my team do well and lose simultaneously. It blows. Maybe some day there will be things in sports that make sense. Maybe. I’m gonna go back to flipping that fan emotion coin until then.

Changing Jackets

Tension is at an all time high in Columbus these days. With eight games remaining in the regular season, the Blue Jackets find themselves on the cusp of the Wild Card. With a 5-5-0 record in their last 10, the Montreal Canadiens find themselves ahead of the Ohio-based squad, 4-5-1 over that stretch, for the last wild card spot by one-point. Jarmo Kekalainen might be nervous, but the person who’s “shit their pants” is John Tortorella.

Pulling off the trades that Kekalainen did this year doesn’t just happen in a vacuum. I got to imagine that he has ownership’s backing. Which means, if this squad fails to qualify for the playoffs, blame will be placed squarely on the shoulders of Tort’s. Adding Matt Duchene, Ryan Dzingel and Adam McQuaid have netted the Jackets a 6-7-2 record. Not what you want to see of a team that only has a 3rd and 7th round pick this year and is “all in.”

Tort’s did allude to the fact that bringing in new players presents challenges with lineup decisions but that’s why you get paid the big bucks. He has to be able to assess his roster and make good decisions, quickly, so as to not squander this opportunity. These lineup issues are not limited to new players, though. Ryan Murray has been out almost the entire month of March with an upper-body injury. This has been a huge blow to a defensive core that is arguably the best in the Metropolitan Division. What has been Tort’s answer; keep throwing out Seth Jones and Zach Werenski.

Now don’t get me wrong, they’re a dynamite pairing. Probably top 10 in the league. But, when you’re down guys, some of that talent needs to be spread throughout the lineup a bit more. Getting beat by Edmonton 4-1 is a pretty good indication that you’re struggling on the back end. It would really behoove the team to look at splitting Jones and Werenski to cover up some of the flaws that injuries have presented. Then instead of playing them together for 25 minutes together each game, you can play them 20-25 minutes apart and maximize your assets.

Whether the Jackets make lineup changes or not, we as fans are in store for a flourish down the stretch here as the Wild Card race draws to an end.

Red Wings Rant - 3/11/2019

It is with heavy heart that I write to let you know that the Detroit Red Wings season is over… Oh you already knew that? Well with most things in this blog, I’m late to the party. More specifically: Filip Zadina’s first seven games in the NHL.

The course of this “rebuild-on-the-fly” has caused me to question a lot.

Does it work?

Are we ever going to be good again?

When does football start back?

None of those compares to, “why did Zadina slip and is he a bust?” The AHL is tough to get highlights of, therefore I’ve spent the entirety of this season relying on others for my updates on the kid. I hate that! I have an itch; to be able to watch someone and get a feel for what they can and can’t do.

That itch was scratched on February 24, and he is as advertised. Despite only having two points through his 7 games, Lil Z has been multifaceted. He’s silky, smart and hardworking. But the thing that’s impressed me the most is his ability to transition the puck. Typically with young players, they rely on pure, straight line speed to get the transition game going. With Zadina, there is an additional element, an understanding, which is astonishing. It’s eerily similar to Nikolaj Ehlers. I don’t know any zone entry stats to say whether this is true or not, but the kid has IT. I was scared for a while thinking he might not, but I’ve been proven wrong.

Filip Zadina is the best thing that happened to the Detroit Red Wings organization in 2018. Let’s hope this isn’t not the only year we can say that about him.

Alexander The Great 8

Ovi.

Singular in more ways than one, the Russian-Capital winger has been nothing short of himself this season. With 44 goals through 63 game. For those tracking at home, that’s six goals away from 50 with 19 games remaining. If you don’t think he’s hitting or exceeding that total you’re delusional at best.

29.

That’s the number of games Alex Ovechkin has missed in his career. You heard that correctly, his ENTIRE time playing for the Washington Capitals. That’s insane! One might say, singular…

At the age of 33, The Great 8 continues to remain the preeminent scorer in the league. His single stroke on the power play befuddles goalers despite them knowing what’s to come. It’s remarkable, transcendent.

I can’t wait to see him pass Gretzky.